Notes :Nelumbo is a genus of aquatic plants with a large showy flower known as Lotus. There are only two living species in the genus. Lotus are remarkable plants in that they have thermoregulation ability, i.e. they regulate their temperature in order to attract the insects they need for reproduction. When the plant flowers, the blossoms are heated to above 30°C for as long as four days, even when the air is as cool as 10°C. The heat releases an aroma that attracts the insects, that obtain both pollen and a cosy environment to mate and to prepare for flight. Curiously, the closest living genetic relatives to the Lotus plants are the Plane trees!